2 Samuel 19 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David Returns to Jerusalem

19 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and (A)mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into (B)mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people [a]stole back (C)into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king (D)covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, (E)“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Then (F)Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you [b]regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak [c]comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and sat in the (G)gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.

For everyone of Israel had (H)fled to his tent.

David Returns to Jerusalem

9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our (I)enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the (J)Philistines, and now he has (K)fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 So King David sent to (L)Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 You are my brethren, you are (M)my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 (N)And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? (O)God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me [d]continually in place of Joab.’ ” 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, (P)just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to (Q)Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king (R)across the Jordan. 16 And (S)Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 There were a thousand men of (T)Benjamin with him, and (U)Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king. 18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.

David’s Mercy to Shimei

Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, (V)“Do not let my lord [e]impute iniquity to me, or remember what (W)wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should (X)take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all (Y)the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, (Z)because he (AA)cursed the Lord’s anointed?”

22 And David said, (AB)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? (AC)Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore (AD)the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 Now (AE)Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, (AF)“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And (AG)he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, (AH)but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28 For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. (AI)Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to [f]cry out anymore to the king?”

29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”

30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31 And (AJ)Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And (AK)he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today (AL)eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant (AM)Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king (AN)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

The Quarrel About the King

40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and [g]Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and (AO)brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is (AP)a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have (AQ)ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”

Yet (AR)the words of the men of Judah were [h]fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:3 went by stealth
  2. 2 Samuel 19:6 have no respect for
  3. 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit. to the heart of
  4. 2 Samuel 19:13 permanently
  5. 2 Samuel 19:19 charge me with iniquity
  6. 2 Samuel 19:28 complain
  7. 2 Samuel 19:40 MT Chimhan
  8. 2 Samuel 19:43 harsher

Cross references

  1. 2 Samuel 19:1 : Jer. 14:2
  2. 2 Samuel 19:2 : Esth. 4:3
  3. 2 Samuel 19:3 : 2 Sam. 17:24, 27; 19:32
  4. 2 Samuel 19:4 : 2 Sam. 15:30
  5. 2 Samuel 19:4 : 2 Sam. 18:33
  6. 2 Samuel 19:5 : 2 Sam. 18:14
  7. 2 Samuel 19:8 : 2 Sam. 15:2; 18:24
  8. 2 Samuel 19:8 : 2 Sam. 18:17
  9. 2 Samuel 19:9 : 2 Sam. 8:1–14
  10. 2 Samuel 19:9 : 2 Sam. 3:18
  11. 2 Samuel 19:9 : 2 Sam. 15:14
  12. 2 Samuel 19:11 : 2 Sam. 15:24
  13. 2 Samuel 19:12 : 2 Sam. 5:1; 1 Chr. 11:1
  14. 2 Samuel 19:13 : 2 Sam. 17:25; 1 Chr. 2:17
  15. 2 Samuel 19:13 : Ruth 1:17
  16. 2 Samuel 19:14 : Judg. 20:1
  17. 2 Samuel 19:15 : Josh. 5:9; 1 Sam. 11:14, 15
  18. 2 Samuel 19:15 : 2 Sam. 17:22
  19. 2 Samuel 19:16 : 2 Sam. 16:5; 1 Kin. 2:8
  20. 2 Samuel 19:17 : 2 Sam. 3:19; 1 Kin. 12:21
  21. 2 Samuel 19:17 : 2 Sam. 9:2, 10; 16:1, 2
  22. 2 Samuel 19:19 : 1 Sam. 22:15
  23. 2 Samuel 19:19 : 2 Sam. 16:5, 6
  24. 2 Samuel 19:19 : 2 Sam. 13:33
  25. 2 Samuel 19:20 : Judg. 1:22; 1 Kin. 11:28
  26. 2 Samuel 19:21 : [Ex. 22:28]
  27. 2 Samuel 19:21 : [1 Sam. 26:9]
  28. 2 Samuel 19:22 : 2 Sam. 3:39; 16:10
  29. 2 Samuel 19:22 : 1 Sam. 11:13
  30. 2 Samuel 19:23 : 1 Kin. 2:8, 9, 37, 46
  31. 2 Samuel 19:24 : 2 Sam. 9:6; 21:7
  32. 2 Samuel 19:25 : 2 Sam. 16:17
  33. 2 Samuel 19:27 : 2 Sam. 16:3, 4
  34. 2 Samuel 19:27 : 2 Sam. 14:17, 20
  35. 2 Samuel 19:28 : 2 Sam. 9:7–13
  36. 2 Samuel 19:31 : 2 Sam. 17:27–29; 1 Kin. 2:7
  37. 2 Samuel 19:32 : 2 Sam. 17:27–29
  38. 2 Samuel 19:35 : Ps. 90:10
  39. 2 Samuel 19:37 : 2 Sam. 19:40; Jer. 41:17
  40. 2 Samuel 19:39 : Gen. 31:55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Sam. 14:33
  41. 2 Samuel 19:41 : 2 Sam. 19:15
  42. 2 Samuel 19:42 : 2 Sam. 19:12
  43. 2 Samuel 19:43 : 1 Kin. 11:30, 31
  44. 2 Samuel 19:43 : Judg. 8:1; 12:1

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 19 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

19 And it is declared to Joab, `Lo, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom;' 2 and the salvation on that day becometh mourning to all the people, for the people hath heard on that day, saying, `The king hath been grieved for his son.' 3 And the people stealeth away, on that day, to go in to th...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

19 Forsooth it was told to Joab, that the king wept, and bewailed his son; 2 and the victory in that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard, that it was said in that day, The king maketh sorrow on his son. (and so the victory that day was turned into mourning for all th...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - World English Bible (WEB)

19 Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.” 2 The victory that day was turned into mourning among all the people; for the people heard it said that day, “The king grieves for his son.” 3 The people sneaked into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - The Voice (VOICE)

David should never be counted out. Hours before, Absalom has everything going his way, and David is run out of his kingdom. Smart and fierce, he doesn’t spend all those years hiding from Saul and fighting with little or no resources for nothing. Although he orders his generals to be merciful to his ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David Weeps Over Absalom19 The king was shaken. So he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he walked he cried, “My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Then Joab was told, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absal...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

19 It was told Jo′ab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab′salom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

19 It was told Jo′ab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab′salom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

19 It was told Joab, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they fl...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

19 It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”(A)2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they fl...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Joab Rebukes the King19 [a]Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and h...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New Life Version (NLV)

19 Then Joab was told, “See, the king is crying. He is filled with sorrow for Absalom.” 2 So the happiness of winning the battle that day was changed to sorrow for all the people. For they heard that day, “The king is filled with sorrow for his son.” 3 So the people were quiet as they went in secr...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David Returns to Jerusalem19 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and (A)mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into (B)mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people [a]stole back (C)into the ...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

19 [a]Joab was told, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Version (NIV)

19 [a]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when t...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

19 Someone told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. He’s filled with sadness because his son has died.” 2 The army had won a great battle that day. But their joy turned into sadness. That’s because someone had told the troops, “The king is filled with sorrow because his son is dead...
Read More

2 Samuel 19 - New English Translation (NET)

19 (19:2) Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.” 3 That day the people stole away to go to the city the way pe...
Read More